Module for connecting actuators and/or sensors

ABSTRACT

A module includes a mounting plate and a housing, which can be swiveled onto the latter. The housing includes a housing base and a housing cover joined together with the housing base in an interlocked manner. Inserted between the housing base and the housing cover is a seal, which becomes fully functional when the housing is screwed to the mounting plate.

This application is the national phase under 35 U.S.C. §371 of PCTInternational Application No. PCT/DE00/01029 which has an Internationalfiling date of Apr. 4, 2000, which designated the United States ofAmerica, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated byreference.

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a module for connecting actuators and/orsensors. Preferably, the module includes a mounting plate with a recessfor receiving a form-coded flat cable and a housing which can beswiveled onto the mounting plate. It further preferably includes aprinted-circuit board and a contacting device with contact pins forestablishing the contact of the flat cable. The housing is preferablymade up of a housing base and a housing cover to form a unit which canbe disassembled and in the interior space of which the printed-circuitboard is removably held.

2. Background of the Invention

A known module of a generic type is disclosed by EP 0 821 434 A1. Placedor injection-molded in the housing base is a profiled seal, whichensures adequate sealing by pressing together of the housing base andhousing cover. However, the housing base and housing cover can in thiscase only be disassembled by destroying them, i.e. they cannot then beused again.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is based on an object of improving a module of theaforementioned type in such a way that its housing can be disassembledin a simple way without destroying it, while at the same time having amodule whose sealing is ensured in accordance with protection class IP67, for example.

This and other objects are achieved by a housing base and/or the housingcover being made in a box-like form. Further, in the contacted state ofthe flat cable, the two components are preferably pushed one into theother in such a way that their side walls overlap at least partiallywith positive engagement. In addition, between the housing base and thehousing cover, a peripheral seal preferably lies, which becomes fullyfunctional, i.e. the sealing of the housing cover with respect to thehousing base, when the housing is screwed to the mounting plate.

Advantageous developments of the invention can be taken from thesubclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in more detailbelow with reference to drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows the basic construction of a module according to theinvention,

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the module according to theinvention and

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the module.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a module 1 for connecting a plurality of stations, forexample sensors and/or actuators. The module 1 serves for the exchangeof data between the stations and a remote master. Connected to themodule 1 as the connection to the master is a bus system, for example atwo-wire line. The module 1 substantially includes a housing 2, 3 and amounting plate 4, in the recesses 16 of which form-coded flat cables 5are placed as two-wire lines. The housing 2, 3, which can be swiveledonto the mounting plate 4, contains a printed-circuit board, which isnot visible here and onto which pointed contacting pins 6 are soldered.With these contacting pins 6 of a contacting device, which are partiallyprotruding out of the housing 2, 3, contact of the flat cables 5 can beestablished by way of a penetration technique.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the module 1 in the swiveled-onstate. The housing is formed by a housing base 2 and a housing cover 3and has an interior space 7, in which the printed-circuit board 8 ismounted. The electrical connection of stations to the circuit on theprinted-circuit board 8 can be established via station terminals 9 onthe housing cover 3. The housing base 2 and the housing cover 3 are madein a box-like form.

In the swiveled-on state shown in FIG. 2, they have been pushed one intothe other in such a way that their side walls 10 and 11 at leastpartially overlap with positive engagement. In the exemplary embodimentspecifically shown here, the outer contour of the housing base 2 isadapted to the inner contour of the housing cover, i.e. the housing base2 has been pushed into the housing cover 3. The housing cover 3 includeson the inner side of its side walls 11, an offset 12. Between thisoffset 12 and the end face 13 of the housing base 2 lies a peripheralseal 14. The housing 2, 3 is screwed by way of a screw 15 to themounting plate 4, making the seal fully functional. That is, the sealingof the housing cover 3 with respect to the housing base, 2 makes theseal fully functional.

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the module 1 with its four station terminals9 and the mentioned screw 15 for screwing the housing 2, 3 to themounting plate 4.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same maybe varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as adeparture from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all suchmodifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intendedto be included within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A module for connecting at least one of actuatorsand sensors, comprising: a mounting plate with a recess for receiving aform-coded flat cable; and a housing, which can be swiveled onto themounting plate, including a printed-circuit board and a contactingdevice with contact pins for establishing the contact of the flat cable,the housing including a housing base and a housing cover forming a unitwhich can be disassembled and in an interior space of which theprinted-circuit board is removably held, wherein at least one of thehousing base and the housing cover is made in a box-like form and, inthe contacted state of the flat cable, the housing base and housingcovers are pushed one into the other in such a way that side wallsthereof overlap at least partially with positive engagement and wherein,between the housing base and the housing cover lies a peripheral seal,wherein the seal is fully functional and electrical connection betweenthe printed circuit board and the flat cable is established by thehousing being screwed to the mounting plate.
 2. The module as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the housing is capable of being swiveled onto themounting plate.
 3. The module as claimed in claim 2, wherein one of thehousing cover and housing base includes an offset on an inner side ofthe side walls and wherein the seal lies between this offset and an endface of the other of the housing cover and housing base.
 4. The moduleas claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the housing cover and housing baseincludes an offset on an inner side of the side walls and wherein theseal lies between this offset and an end face of the other of thehousing cover and housing base.
 5. The module of claim 1, wherein theseal becomes non-fully functional upon the housing being disconnectedfrom the mounting plate, thereby permitting the housing base and housingcover to be disconnected.
 6. The module of claim 1, wherein an outercontour of the housing base and an inner contour of the housing coveroverlap.
 7. A module for connecting a plurality of devices, comprising:a mounting plate, adapted to receive a cable; and a housing, including ahousing base and a housing cover, wherein at least a portion of thehousing base and housing cover overlap when connected to form thehousing and wherein a seal between the housing base and housing coverbecomes fully functional and electrical connection between the cable anda printed circuit board is established with a connection between thehousing and the mounting plate.
 8. The module of claim 7, wherein themodule is for connecting at least one of actuators and sensors.
 9. Themodule of claim 7, wherein the housing houses the printed circuit board.10. The module of claim 9, wherein the housing is connected to themounting plate by at least one screw.
 11. The module of claim 10,wherein the seal becomes non-fully functional upon the housing beingdisconnected from the mounting plate, thereby permitting the housingbase and housing cover to be disconnected.
 12. The module of claim 11,wherein at least one side wall of the housing base and housing coveroverlap.
 13. The module of claim 11, wherein an outer contour of thehousing base and an inner contour of the housing cover overlap.
 14. Themodule of claim 7, wherein the housing is connected to the mountingplate by at least one screw.
 15. The module of claim 7, wherein the sealbecomes non-fully functional upon the housing being disconnected fromthe mounting plate, thereby permitting the housing base and housingcover to be disconnected.
 16. The module of claim 7, wherein at leastone side wall of the housing base and housing cover overlap.
 17. Themodule of claim 7, wherein an outer contour of the housing base and aninner contour of the housing cover overlap.